>BREAKING NEWS – Blogger Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki on Hunger Strike

Thursday, October 7th, 2010 – Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki, blogger and human rights activist sentenced to 15 years prison, has started a hunger strike. Ronaghi-Maleki, aka, Babak Khoramdin, began his hunger strike a few days ago in protest to his unjust sentence and the manner in which his case file was handled by the judiciary. Zelikha Mousavi, Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki’s mother made the following statement to RAHANA: “Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki began a hunger strike a few days ago, demanding to meet with Tehran’s prosecutor.”

Mrs. Mousavi added: “We hadn’t spoken to Hossein in the past two days, however someone informed us of his hunger strike yesterday. Hossein confirmed that he is on hunger strike, in a phone conversation we had with him today.”

Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki was sentenced to 15 years prison on October 3rd, 2010 by branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court. This sentenced was announced to him by Mr. Sattari, the court clerk in charge of branch 26. Ronaghi-Maleki was not even allowed to read the verdict and he was threatened, beaten and forced to sign the court document containing his sentence.

Ronaghi-Maleki was arrested on December 13th, 2009 at his father’s house in the city of Malekan in Tabriz. He was transferred to ward 2A at Evin prison under the supervision of the IRGC. Ronaghi-Maleki was put under extreme pressure during the past 10 months with the goal to obtain a false confession and television interview.

According to Rongahi-Maleki’s family, the judicial authorities stated that he was first sentenced to death, but his sentenced was later reduced to a 15 year prison term. The judicial authorities informed the family that had Ronaghi-Maleki cooperated he would have received a lesser sentence.

It is worth mentioning that Ronaghi-Maleki’s family and lawyer have yet to be officially informed of his 15 year prison sentenced.